Medievalists.net » Procopius

Justinian’s Reconquest: Notions of Return in Procopius’ Gothic Wars

Medievalists.net — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 23:51:14 +0000

Though the native Italians play a relatively minor role in the Gothic Wars, the essay will suggest, that in Procopius’ mind, the Western Romans’ ‘decision’ to forego their martial roles for less martial forms of male self-fashioning in the fifth century had led, not only to the rise of the ‘barbarian’ Vandals and the Goths, but had separated the Italians from an essential component of Romanitas—masculine martial virtues.

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Two King of Kings? Procopius’ Presentation of Justinian and Kosrow I

Medievalists.net — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 19:34:22 +0000

This paper investigates Procopius’ description of two of the most influential men of his era: the Persian emperor Kosrow I (ruled 531-579), and the Byzantine emperor Justinian (ruled 527-565).

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The date of Procopius’ Buildings in the light of recent scholarship

Medievalists.net — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 19:29:49 +0000

In the last few years there has been a huge increase in the work on Procopius. While much of this has focussed, as usual, on the Anecdota or Secret History, there have also been important discussion of the De Aedificiis or Buildings.

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Theodora, Aetius of Amida, and Procopius: Some Possible Connections

Medievalists.net — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 13:52:37 +0000

Behind the purported facts of Theodora’s career as a common prostitute and later as empress are the hidden details of what we might call feminine pharmacology: what were the drugs used by prostitutes and call-girls in sixth-century Byzan- tium? Were there ordinary pharmaceuticals employed by such professionals to stay in business?

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Totila: Theoderic Reborn or Barbarian Belisarius?

Medievalists.net — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:22:36 +0000

This essay examines the sixth-century Byzantine historian Procopius’ depiction of the Gothic king Totila.

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Hard and Soft Power on the Eastern Frontier

Medievalists.net — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:53:17 +0000

This paper considers historical perspectives on recently discovered archaeological evidence in what was the sixth-century Roman-Persian frontier region.

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Procopius’ Portrayal of Theodora in the Secret History: ‘Her Charity was Universal’

Medievalists.net — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 17:02:24 +0000

Like most other writers of late antiquity, what little is known about Procopius comes from his works. Born at the turn of the sixth century in Caesarea, he had the chance to receive education in the traditional Greek fashion, i.e. through the use of classical authors, before Justinian banned pagan teaching in 529

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Procopius on Roman, Persian and Gothic Strategy near Dara and Rome

Medievalists.net — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 03:39:36 +0000

This paper examines Procopius’ descriptions of Roman, Persian and Gothic strategies to control Dara in 530 and Rome in 537-8 by reconciling texts with the landscapes of the areas concerned drawing on satellite imagery, cartography and field visits.

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The Emperor Majorian’s Secret Embassy to the Court of the Vandal Gaiseric

Medievalists.net — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:39:23 +0000

Was Procopius recounting history or simply preserving a legend? Did he compose it originally or was it take from another source and inserted merely as a diversion from his main narrative?

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